I Promise…….

Chapter 15- Gates of Eternal Power

Vincent sat alone on the deck of the Highwind,/I wonder what everyone is doing/ He sighed, he wondered what was going on between Yuffie and him. No one had ever made him laugh, only Lucrecia and that was a very few. He sighed once more before turning around, there stood Yuffie. Yuffie knew he was surprised she could now read Vincent like a book. " Hey Vince!!"Vincent nodded his head, and turned back around to stare at the world around him. " What are you doing Vincent?" Yuffie eyed him, " You look like something is bothering you…." Vincent sighed, " We are taking too long to find Reeve."

" I know that and I know you are worried about him and all, but that isn't bothering you right now." Vincent chuckled slightly, " And how would you know if that really was bothering me or not?" He turned around and eyed her, " I know that Vinnie, because I am the only one on this damn ship who can read you like a book." Yuffie smiled and walked over to the raling. She leaned to look down and leaned a little bit too far. " Aaa!!!" Vincent knew what was going to happen before it even happened. He was already at her side and grabbed her hand, right before she toppled over.

" Vinnie! Help me up!!!" Yuffie was dangling dangerously over the edge, below her the ground. Vincent pulled Yuffie up easily. Right when her feet touched the the ground, she buried her face in Vincent's shirt. She didn't cry, she was just frightened. Vincent wrapped his arms around her and stroked her head gently, " It is okay Yuffie, I am here for you." Soon Cid came up and they both broke apart, they didn't know why, maybe they were afraid that he would percieve the wrong idea. " Hey Old Man!" Cid eyes narrowed in slits. " Shuddup brat, aright we are near uh… what was that place again…?"

Vincent shook his head while Yuffie just watched, " Oh yah! Rosenberry Inn ^_^ll" " So put you're a$$ in gear and let's get ready, after we get Rude and them we go our separate ways to find Reeve, clues anything that might tell us about his whereabouts. Aright?" They nodded their heads and watched Cid as he walked away. " Stupid fart.." Yuffie mumbled. Vincent chuckled he didn't know why anymore but when he was around Yuffie she always seemed to make a smile tug at his lips, or have a chuckle or laugh escape from him. Yuffie sighed, she was bored, " So Vinnie," " So Yuffie…." Yuffie eyed him," And what is so interesting mimicking me??"

" And what is so interesting mimicking me??" Vincent mimicked, he smile playfully, he sometimes liked to start rare little games with Yuffie. This was the second time, the other one didn't go so well when they played a prank on Cid. Yuffie smiled, " I'm an idiot." " You're an idiot." He laughed," Hey that's not fair, you suppose to mimick what I say, not turn it around!" He smiled and turned to leave, " And you think I am going to let you get away with it!?" Yuffie quickly ran and did a leap, landing right in Vincent's path.

Vincent stopped, he motioned her coldly to move. " And why the sour mood all of a sudden?" He glared at her, " You think by glaring at me I am suddenly going to move? Puh-lease!" Vincent went around Yuffie but didn't get far before he tripped. He landed flat on his face, he got up slowly, and felt someone sit on his back. " You aren't getting up till you tell me why the sour mood change, and I won't take go away or any other way to say go away Yuffie."

Yuffie was light, she thought she would be heavy enough to hold him down but was wrong. He sighed slightly, and stood up quickly, making sure that when Yuffie came into contact with the ground she would get hurt. Yuffie had already guessed she was too light when he lifted himself up quickly, yet effortlessly. Instead she got off of him and helped him up. He nodded his head and began to walk away until well, he felt someone clinging tightly to his leg. He looked down and there he saw Yuffie clinging to his leg as though her life depended on it. " Why the mood change!? I won't let go till you tell me."

" Let go Yuffie, it is useless listening to my problems." " But don't you get it Vinnie? That's what friends are for." Vincent was quiet for a few seconds before he replied coldly, " If you are my friend you will respect my wishes and let go of my leg so I can go to a place and think." " Hey you can't use that against me!" He smirked menacingly, " There is no rule that says I can't so let go." " Well, as a friend I have a right to know what is bothering my friend Vinnie!"

He sighed, " I don't know….now will you kindly let go?" Yuffie let go and stood in front of him she looked deep into his eyes, and saw everything. His pain, his life, memories, his love everything in those eyes she saw were frighteningly true. What she saw worst of all was Chaos feeding upon his hurt and anger. " Is that how it is when yu are alone, left behind, abandoned?" Vincent could have sworn something happened to Yuffie, her gray stormy eyes showed compassion, worryment, and what he noticed the most was her love for him. " Maybe…" With that said he brushed past her quickly wondering what she meant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reeve sighed, he didn't know what was going on, except the fact that his head hurt like hell. His vision wasn't blurry and he could see perfectly. " You're awake." Reeve looked over to the shadows and out stepped Jet. " Where am I you bastard!?" Reeve seethed, trying his best to control his anger that was slowly rising. " No where important. Oh, I just wanted to give you an insight on what has been happening lately, first one of you dear little friends was injured." "Fatally??" Reeve questioned, not wanting to believe if anyone happened to die. " Yes, we are not sure if she is alive or not. But, our men will retrieve them soon. We are going after our third target. Yuffie, she is the weakest very arrogant too." " Y-you c-can't…" " And why not?" " She is still a kid, she hasn't seen everything there is to see for a youthful girl like her….." " But according to her she is not a child, she is an adult. She must learn to see the real world as it is." Reeve sighed, it was lost cause, " Go away…" " The beginning of your nightmare starts here. For we shall have her tomorrow if Vincent leaves her side." " NO! GET OUT! GO AWAY!" Reeve screamed in agony, he couldn't take it anymore, there was no use fighting. " Don't die now, you will be your friends reward when they arrive."

" Yes, but what will your reward be?" " Why Yuffie the young woman of course." " Why do you need her." " Since we will have what we want I shall tell you, long ago there was a song sung by a maiden. Kind and good was she, she used this song to open a gate leading to eternal power, and immortality. There she sat, protecting and guarding. Now she is gone and our leader will replace her." " You wouldn't……."